Kite string traveler



Sept. 28, 1965 E. H. BAYHA 3,208,697

KITE STRING TRAVELER Filed Dec. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edwin H Bay/2a INVENTOR.

BY wwww www Sept. 28, 1965 E. H. BAYHA KITE STRING TRAVELER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1963 Fig. 3

Edwin H. Bay/Ia INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,208,697 KITE STRING TRAVELER Edwin H. Bayha, Palos Heights, Ill. (1306 Cowpath Road, Hatfield, Pa.) Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,622 7 Claims. (Cl. 244155) The present invention relates to a toy or amusement device in the form of an attachment employed in combination with a kite and more particularly to a device that is suspended on the string of a flying kite by means of hangers so that the herein described traveler will move along the string toward the kite as it is powered by the wind and upon striking trip means mounted on the string, the wing structure on the traveler will be released and will change its position relative to the wind direction. The change of the wing position will enable the traveler to then descend along the kite flying string.

A object of the present invention is to provide a kite string traveler incorporating in its construction a relatively thin fuselage having a plurality of pairs of upwardly opening hooks forming hangers for movably supporting said fuselage on the kite string together with a pivotal wing assembly that is swingable from a position generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage to a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage. A resilient member such as a rubber band or the like is employed for resiliently biasing the wing structure from its extended or perpendicular position to its retracted or parallel position together with a latch mechanism for releasably securing the wing in its extended position with the latch mechanism being operated in response to engagement with a trip or trigger secured to the kite string thus releasing the wing for enabling it to pivot from a perpendicular position to a position parallel to the fuselage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a kite string traveler in accordance with the preceding objects in which the fuselage is generally of inverted U- shaped configuration with the latch mechanism being received therein with the latch mechanism including a pivotal latch lever or member having a notch in one end thereof for engagement with the forward or inner end of the wing assembly for retaining the wing assembly in the extended perpendicular position.

Yet another object of the present invention provides a kite string traveler which is quite simple in construction, easy to attach and detach in relation to a kite string, effective in operation, novel and entertaining in operation and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the kite string traveler of the present invention, mounted on a kite string illustrating the latch operating mechanism about to strike the trip or trigger on the string;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but with the wing assembly in the parallel position whereby the traveler is readied to glide back down the kite string;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the arrangement of the components of the structure when the wing assembly is in its perpendicular position;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the orientation of the components when the wing assembly is in its parallel position;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5--5 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the structural details of a fuselage and the manner in which the wing assembly is mounted thereon;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of FIGURE 3 illustrating further structural details of the fuselage;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 77 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the structural details of the fuselage and the pivotal mounting for the latch member;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse, sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 88 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the manner in which the coneshaped trip or trigger is mounted on the kite string; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the front construction of the wing assembly which enables it to be pivotally mounted on the fuselage.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the kite string traveler of the present invention for mounting on and movement on a kite string 12 connected to the bridle 14 of a kite 16 in a conventional manner. The kite string traveler 10 includes a fuselage generally designated by numeral 18 and a Wing assembly generally designated by numeral 20.

The fuselage 18 is longitudinally elongated and is generally of inverted U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration and includes a generally inverted U-shaped member 22 which includes a bight portion or web 24 having a pair of depending and diverging side walls 26 and 28 integral therewith. The forward ends of the side walls 26 and 28 incline or curve upwardly as at 30 into a generally pointed but blunt nose 32 for the fuselage. The rear portion of the sidewalls 26 and 28 also incline gradually upwardly as at 34 to form a blunt tail portion 36.

The fuselage 18 is movably supported from the kite string 12 by two pairs of oppositely facing hook-like members generally designated by numeral 38. Each hook-like member includes an upstanding portion 40 perpendicular to the web 24 and a laterally inwardly extending bill portion 42 parallel to the web 24 and extending laterally beyond the edge of the web 24 remote from the portion of the upstanding member 40 which extends upwardly from the other edge of the web-like member 24. Thus, by arranging the hook members 38 in pairs with the horizontal portions or laterally extending portions 42 extending in opposite directions as illustrated in FIGURES 5-6, the fuselage may be attached to the string 12 without cutting the string and also the fuselage will move and ride freely thereon and can be detached therefrom at any time.

For attaching the hook member 38 to the fuselage 18, the bottom end of each upstanding member 40 has a laterally extending bottom portion 44 which extends through aligned slots 46 in the fuselage at the juncture between the Web 24 and the legs 26 and 28. The free and portion of the bottom member designated by numeral 48 is bent downwardly against the outer surface of the leg 28 as viewed in FIGURE 6 thus securely attaching the hook-like members 38 to the fuselage. With this construction, the fuselage will be movably suspended from the kite string for movement in either direction thereon.

The wing assembly 20 includes a generally triangular shaped wind 50 having diverging leading edges 52 terminating in parallel side edge portions 54 adjacent the rear thereof and a transverse rear edge 56 which preferably is in the form of a shallow V-shaped configuration. Attached to the center of the front portion or apex of the generally over-all V-shaped wing 50 is a supporting strap or strut 58 secured thereto by any suitable manner such as by adhesive 60 or the like. The strap 58 projects forwardly beyond the forward end of the wing 50 and includes a semi-cylindrical loop 62 and a substantially T-shaped terminal embodying a slightly tapering tongue 64 at the terminal end thereof with a pair of laterally extending lugs 66 disposed intermediate the tongue 64 and the semi-cylindrical loop 62.

The bottom edge of each of the legs or walls 26 and 28 is provided with a downwardly opening notch of generally U-shaped configuration designated by numeral 68 intermediate the ends there-of and the lugs 66 are seated and pivotally received in the notches 68 with the tongue 64 being received between the legs 26 and 28 as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Thus, the notches 68 form a fulcrum or pivot point for the wing assembly 20 where-by the wing assembly 28 may move from a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage 18 as illustrated in FIGURES l and 3 to a position panallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4.

Immediately rearwardly of each of the notches 68, the bottom edges of the legs 26 and 28 are each provided with a recessed area or relieved area 70 for receiving the semicylindrical loop 62 when the wing assembly 20 is in its parallel position as illustrated in FIGURE 4 thereby enabling the wing assembly 20 to obtain its parallel position with the lugs 66 retained in the notches 68.

An endless resilient band such as a rubbed band 7-2 is disposed within the concave area 74 of the semi-cylindr-ical loop 62 extends along the outer surface of the legs 26 and 28 and into and through a notch 76 formed in the top edge of the fuselage 18 rearwardly of the notches 68 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The notch 76 extends through the web 24 and downwardly a slight distance into the legs 26 and 28 as illustrated in FIGURE thus securely anchoring the resilient band in place. The resilient band 72 will be stretched when the wing assembly 28 is in its perpendicular position as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and will thus bias the wing assembly to its parallel position and retain the wing assembly in its parallel position since the band still will be stretched or biased when the wing assembly 20 is in its parallel position as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4.

A latch mechanism is provided for retaining the Wing assembly 20 releasably in its perpendicular position with the latch mechanism including an elongated latch lever 78 which is of U-shaped configuration generally similar to the U-shaped configuration of the fuselage as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The latch member 78 includes a web 88 and a pair of depending and slightly diverging legs 82 and 84 which are pivot ally secured between the legs 26 and 28 of the fuselage by a pivot pin or rivet 86 extending through the legs 26 and 28 of the fuselage and the legs 82 and 84 of the latch lever 78 adjacent the web 88 thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The forward end of the legs 82 and 84 of the latch lever are provided with a notched out area 88 defined by a surface 90 perpendicular to the web 80 for engaging the end portion of the tongue 64 when the wing assembly 20 is in its perpendicular position as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thus, with the resilient ban-d 72 biasing the wing assembly 20 rearwardly, the tongue 64 will be retained in engagement with the latch surface 98 and be thus retained in its perpendicular position until the latch lever 78 is pivoted about the pivot pin 86.

The rear end portion of the latch lever 78 projects beyond the tail 36 of the fuselage and terminates in a widened and downwardly offset engaging surface 92 for engaging the conical trip 94, which is mounted on the kite string 12. As the trip engaging surface 92 engages the conical surface of the trip 94, the lever 78 will be pivoted downwardly from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3 thus raising the forward end of the latch lever or trigger 78 sufiiciently to release it from the tongue 64 thereby releasing the wing assembly 20 so that the resilient ban-d 72 may pivot it rearwardly to its parallel position.

The conical trip member 94 is of hollow construction and provided with a pair of diametrically opposed projections 96 thereon which receives an endless rubber band 98 having a portion of one leg thereof wrapped around the kite string as indicated at for frictionally securing the trip member adjustably and removably on the kite string so that the position of the kite traveler when the wing assembly changes from its perpendicular to its parallel position may be varied.

In operation, the traveler is placed on the kite string when the kite is in flying position by means of the four hangers which are orientated in opposing pairs. Of course, the fuselage is positioned on the string 12 so that the tail 36 is disposed toward the kite 16. With the wing swung down and toward the person using the device, the latch mechanism is engaged with the tongue for retaining the wing assembly in its perpendicular position. As the traveler sails up the kite string, the latch member or trigger which extends beyond the rear end of the fuselage will engage the abutment or trip member and release the wing assembly. The wing assembly 20 is then pulled to its normal flying position or its glide position by the rubber band 72 which also serves the purpose of holding the wing assembly and the fuselage together. The wing strap 58 also serves as a support for the wing and the tongue thereof drops into keeper notch 88 on the latch member or trigger.

If desired, to or more travelers may be used on the same kite string simultaneously with the first traveler to hit the trip being released thus, in effect, diving upon the others. Upon contact of a rising traveler and the diving traveler, the trigger on the rising traveler will also be released due to its engagement with the tapered nose of the diving traveler thus releasing all travelers so that they will return to the operator. Of course, the fuselage and the Wing assembly of the travelers may be of various shapes and configurations and may be constructed of any lightweight material with suitable stiffness such as plastics, paper, wood or metal. The entire structure is quite simple and is relatively inexpensive to manufacutre. Further, the structure readily adapts itself to use by various individuals interested in fllying kites.

The present invention will work well in any wind suitable for kite flying and is reasonably durable and easy to operate. The device may be made to look like a modern aircraft with the cost being consistent with the cost of a kite. The construction is such that it will be light in weight, yet rigid and have low air resistance so that relatively fast trips to and from the kite may be made. The notch mechanism is quite simple and the entire struc ture has very few parts and provides not only a highly entertaining toy but one which will be assisted by the wind when travelling up the string and will also be pushed downwardly by the same wind when travelling down in view of the angle of incidence with the wind assembly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A kite string traveler for suspension and free movement along a string of a flying kite in an up direction and alternatively in a down direction, said traveler comprising an elongated fuselage, readily attachable and detachable and constantly biasing the wing assembly towards said v parallel position, and trippable latch means sheathed within the confines of the fuselage and releasably retaining the wing assembly in its perpendicular position whereby wind impinging on the wing of the assembly will move the traveler upwandly along the kite string, said latch means being adapted to engage an abutment on the kite string for releasing the latch means thereby enabling the wing assembly to swing from its perpendicular to its parallel position, whereby forces of gravity and wind acting on the surfaces of the wing will propel the traveler down the kite string.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 and, in combination, cone-shaped abutment, means removably and adjustably securing the cone shaped abutment to the kite string, said means including a pair of diametrically opposite radially extending projections located at the large end of the abutment, an endless resilient member having loops releasably engaging said projections and having the center thereof wrapped around the kite string, said coneshaped abutment member providing a ramp in the form of a cam for engagement by the latch means for tripping and operating said latch means.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said fuselage is of substantially inverted U-shaped construction with the web being disposed adjacent the kite string and the legs depending therefrom, said wing assembly ineluding an enlarged generally triangular Wing having a strap member of rigid construction attached thereto projecting beyond the apex thereof, said strap member including a tongue at its terminal end, a pair of laterally extending lugs adjacent the tongue and a semi-cylindrical loop between the apex of said wing and the laterally extending lugs, the lower lengthwise edges of each of the legs of the fuselage having a downwardly opening notch therein, said lugs pivotally and removably seated in said notches with the tongue received and swingable between the legs, said resilient means comprising an endless resilient band received and seated in the semi-cylindrical loop and extending over and around the top of the fuselage rearwardly of said notches, whereby the resilient band biases the wing assembly to its parallel position and constitutes the means for this function, the top of said fuselage having a notch therein receiving and anchoring the resilient band whereby the lugs form the means for operatively and pivotally connecting the wing assembly to the fuselage.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for securing the fuselage to the kite string includes a plurality of pairs of hangers orientated in spaced relation longitudinally of the fuselage, each pair of hangers including a pair of upwardly extending members oriented at opposite sides of the fuselage in longitudinally spaced relation and inwardly extending hook members overlapping each other but in spaced relation thereby enabling the kite string to be threaded therethrough without breaking the string.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said latch means includes an elongated latch lever extending longitudinally between the legs of the fuselage, pivot means mounting a median portion of the latch lever on the fuselage intermediate its ends, a keeper notch in the forward end of the latch lever for receiving the tongue on the wing assembly when the wing assembly is in its perpendicular position, said resilient band serving to retain the tongue frictionally engaged with the forward edge of the notch on the latch lever, the rear end of the latch lever extending beyond the rear of the fuselage and terminating in an abutment engaging surface for engaging the abutment on the kite string whereby the latch lever will be pivoted to disengage the keeper notch from the tongue thereby enabling the resilient band to move the wing assembly to its parallel position.

6. In a kite string traveler, an elongated fuselage and a wing assembly including a wing having a surface area for positioning said wing in a perpendicular position relative to the lengthwise axis of said fuselage or, alternatively, in a position parallel thereto whereby the wind which normally holds the kite aloft will impinge upon the wing surface when it is disposed perpendicular to the fuselage for moving the fuselage up a kite string and will impinge upon the top surface of the wing when the latter is parallel to the fuselage whereby the traveler will be urged downwardly along the kite string; said fuselage being substantially U-shaped in cross-section and embodying a web and depending side Walls, the lower lengthwise edges of the median portions of said side walls being provided with downwardly opening keeper notches, said wing being provided at one end with an outstanding T-shaped member providing a tongue projecting and operable between said walls and a pair of opposed assembling lugs seated removably but pivotally in their respectively oriented keeper notches, said tongue having a bent portion situated between said lugs and an adjacent end of said wing, said web being provided with a transverse notch spaced longitudinally from said keeper notch, an elastic endless band encompassing said web and side walls and having an upper end removably anchored in said transverse notch, and a lower end removably seated and yieldingly retained in the recess defined by said bent portion, a latch lever situated between said side Walls and having a median portion pivotally mounted between said side walls, one end of said lever terminating proximal to said keeper notches and having a terminal detent releasably engageable with a coacting free end of said tongue when the wing is in its vertical cocked position, the other end of said lever projecting beyond an adjacent terminal end of said fuselage and being fashioned into a trippable trigger, and hook means carried by said fuselage and adapted to detachably and slidingly hook and suspend the overall device on a string bridled on a flying kite.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, and wherein the pivotal connection between said side walls and lever is spaced from said keeper notches and said transverse notch, said trippable trigger being broad in plan and laterally oifset to provide a cam capable of end thrust engagement with a conical surface on a relatively stationary conical abutment carried by the aforementioned kite string.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,471,199 5/49 Coyne et al 244 2,473,213 6/49 Nissen 244-155 2,833,497 5/58 Young 244-155 2,950,887 8/60 Hiddings 244-155 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Examiner. 

1. A KITE STRING TRAVELER FOR SUSPENSION AND FREE MOVEMENT ALONG A STRING OF A FLYING KITE IN AN UP DIRECTION AND ALTERNATIVELY IN A DOWN DIRECTION, SAID TRAVELER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FUSELAGE, READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACCHABLE SECURING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FUSELAGE AND ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY SUSPEND THE FUSELAGE FROM SAID KITE STRING FOR FREE SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG, A BODILYY AND READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE WING ASSEMBLY, MEANS CARRIED BY AND MOUNTING SAID WING ASSEMBLY ON SAID FUSELAGE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE FUSELAGE TO A POSITION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDIAL AXIS OF THE FUSELAGE, RESILIENT MEANNS ENCIRCLLING THE FUSELAGE AND INTERCONNECTING THE WING ASSEMBLY AND FUSELAGE AND YIELDABLY AND CONSTANTLY BIASING THE WING ASSEMBLY TOWARDS SAID PARALLEL POSITION, AND TRIPPABLE LATCH MEANS SHEATHED 